Trace-carrier



(No Model.)

A. e WILLIAMS.

TRAGB GARRIER.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

at M am M D D m: NORRIS Farms ca. PnoTauTua, wnsumarom D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. WVILLIAMS, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

TRACE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,058, dated September 1, 1896. Application filed February 5, 1896. Serial No. 578,136. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Ooles and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace- Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in combined trace-carriers and buckles for harness, and has for its object the providing of a device by which the loose end of the traces are carried when not in use and also the provision of a simple means for holding together and in position different parts of the harness, such as the hip-straps and back-strap, and preventing the same from slipping.

To more fully describe my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of the combined trace-carrier and buckle, showing it applied to the hip-straps and back or crupper strap and the trace-eyes as held by the carrier. Fig. 2 represents an inverted plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 represents an. end elevation, and Fig. 4 a side elevation, of my improved device. Fig. 5 represents a plan view, with portions of the strap omitted, showing the parts concealed in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section along the line 00 w of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along the line y y of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

A is a metal case which incloses the several parts of the device,and B is a plate or partition carrying upon its upper face a rectangular block E and the rounded stop-blocks K.

M is a spring passing over the top of theblock E and its ends pressing on the stopblocks K. Theset-screw G, provided with the shoulder I-I andpassing through the outer casing, the spring M, and the block E, terminates at its screw-threaded end in a post I, which post is secured to the metal case, as at J For the admission of the straps the metal casing is provided with the rectangular openings O and D. The straps N and O, passing through the aforesaid openings in the casing, engage the post J and are prevented thereby from any possibility of slipping either one way or the other. It is obvious, from the c011- struction shown, that the straps may be very quickly and easily removed or put in place, the only thing necessary being to unscrew the set-screw G and pull the straps out or put them in, as the case may be. The trace ends are held up by the spring M and the stopblocks K. When the trace is not in use, all that is necessary is to gently push the traceeye between the spring and stop-block, when the spring yields, allowing the eye to pass, and on returning the spring engagesthe upper face of the stop-block, preventing thereby the trace-eye from slipping out unless a pull be given the trace, in which instance the spring would give way, allowing the trace to drop. This is an especial advantage, inasmuch as should the trace become caught in anything, if the horse is moving with the har ness on him, instead of breaking the harness the spring allows the trace to drop, thereby preventing any breaking. The readiness with which a spring can be replaced if it should be broken is obvious.

The metallic case A, forming a complete covering, prevents the lines or other parts of the harness from getting caught in the device.

The absolute simplicity and lightness, as well as strength, and the impossibility of the straps once put in position from slipping, are

advantages which, in addition to those before I enumerated, I believe my device to possess over all others.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a combined trace carrier and buckle, the combination with an inclosing case of a partition provided on its upper face with a central block and two rounded stop-blocks, a spring passing over the said central block and having its ends engaging the upper faces of the said stop-blocks, a set-screw passing through the upper portion of the casing and through the spring and central block, and a post J forming a portion of the bottom of the casing and adapted to engage the threaded portion of the said set-screw, substantially'as andfor the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT G. WILLIAMS. WVitnesses:

H. O. KINOAID, L. FLoHR. 

